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What is a Postal Requisition?

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If, following a police investigation, a decision is made to prosecute, you will receive what is known as a postal requisition (also known as a postal charge). A postal requisition is a legal document that summons you to court at a specified time and date.

In the following blog, we discuss everything you need to know about postal requisitions, including what you should do if you have received one and the potential consequences of ignoring it.

While we hope this information is useful, please note that it should not be taken as legal advice. If you need detailed advice about your case, please get in touch, and our team can help.

What does charged by postal requisition mean?

If you have been charged by postal requisition, this means that a decision has been made to prosecute you for an offence.

The postal requisition acts as a notice of a criminal charge and provides important information about when you will need to attend court. It will be sent by the police in the case of summary offences and by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the case of either-way or indictable-only offences.

You may receive a postal requisition if you have previously been arrested and released under investigation, attended an interview under caution, or received no prior warning.

What is in a postal requisition?

A postal requisition will typically contain information about the nature of what is alleged and the offence you have allegedly committed. It will not contain any details about the evidence that the prosecution intends to bring against you, but it may be accompanied by additional documents which outline a statement of facts and other important information related to your case.

The postal requisition will include information about the court you will be attending and the exact time and date your hearing will take place.

Consequences of ignoring the summons or missing the summons date

You should pay close attention to the information contained within the postal requisition. Do not ignore the postal requisition, as a warrant for your arrest will likely be issued if you fail to attend court.

What should you do if you have received a postal requisition?

Upon receiving a postal requisition, it is essential that you speak to an expert criminal defence solicitor as soon as possible. Only by working with a specialist in the crime you are accused of committing can you be confident that you will have the strongest defence and have the best chance of achieving a positive outcome when court proceedings begin.

 At JD Spicer Zeb, our criminal defence solicitors have over 45 years of experience in representing individuals accused of a wide range of criminal offences. This experience, coupled with our extensive expertise and collective knowledge, means that we are perfectly positioned to support you if you have received a postal requisition and are due to attend court.

From the moment we are instructed, our team will be able to support you with every aspect of your case, preparing you in advance of your appearance at court and advising you on the best approach to secure a positive outcome.

We are highly skilled at handling and presenting the various types of evidence used during criminal investigations and trials. Our experience ensures that we can identify any flaws in the case presented against you, as well as highlight any contrasting evidence supporting your position.

We are accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation, and our previous experience means that we can clearly demonstrate a strong track record of success, which has led us to establish strong relationships with many of the country’s leading criminal defence barristers.

If you have received a postal requisition, we are here to provide you with the support you need.

Is there a time limit for the police or CPS to charge you by postal requisition?

You must speak to us to check that the police have not made an error by charging you out of time. In most offences that can be tried in magistrates' court, the prosecution is required to charge you within 6 months. Please click here for more information on CPS guidance.

Related matters:

Related cases

Fees and funding

We understand the importance of full transparency when discussing legal fees.

If you are required to attend court after receiving a postal requisition, you may be eligible for Legal Aid. Whether you can access Legal Aid will depend on whether the grant of public funding is justified on a means and interest of justice basis.

Where you do not qualify for Legal Aid, the alternative will be to fund the case on a private basis.       

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both Legal Aid and private fees) please use the links provided below:

Contact our criminal defence lawyers today

If you have received a postal requisition, require any urgent specialist advice, or immediate representation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact our dedicated criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone at:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you quickly.

24/7 legal representation

For immediate representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556, and we will provide prompt, friendly advice.